Remember when every one went to low fat everything? The theory was that if we eliminated fat from our diet, then we would lose weight or at least avoid gaining anymore. With the wide variety of available low fat products, have we been successful? Not according to a recent study, 61 % of women are overweight and 71% of men are also overweight!
The problem is that removing fat from the diet didn’t just eliminate the bad fats – it actually eliminated good fats too. For example, if you are eating low fat foods cooked in oil, you are getting high amounts of Omega 6 fat – trans-fatty acid and that’s very detrimental for your body. Oils like canola, peanut, corn all contain high amounts of Omega 6 fat and they contribute in huge ways to the amount of fat your body can put on. These are the same oils used in processed foods and in the fast food industry – is it any wonder that fast food isn’t good for you?
So if Omega 6 is bad for you , what is Omega 3?
Omega-3 oils are considered good fats and the one most Americans are deficient in. You can find Omega 3 in fish, however you should avoid farm raised fish because it can be contaminated with mercury, pesticides, estrogen and steroids among other chemicals. Another source of Omega-3 is cod liver and fish oil. If you’ve ever had cod liver oil, I bet your upper lip is curling. It tastes terrible, but it is a great source of Omega-3 and other beneficial nutrients. You can also take it in capsule form, which certainly beats the taste of the oil itself.
So why are these omega-3 oils so beneficial to you?
- They provide lubrication to the skin, arteries, veins, intestinal tract and connective tissue, thus are an aid in fighting aging, heart disease, colon disease, digestion problems and arthritis.
- Can increase your energy level.
- Has shown the capability of improving your concentration, thus enabling a benefit in hyperactivity, Alzheimer’s, depression and many other cognitively impaired situations.
- Can benefit those with cancer and other serious diseases.
- Softens skin and makes it smoother, and renews dry hair.
- Reduces inflammation and benefits muscle recovery from trauma, overdoing, over-exercise and arthritis.
- May help you sleep better.
- Can improve constipation as lubrication is one of the basic needs for easier and better elimination.
- Has often increased healing capability.
- Can produce calmness and even vitality in an individual.
- Reduces blood pressure.
- Is necessary for the conversion of all hormones within your body
- Can help eliminate the “bad” fats you’ve ingested from your body, thus aiding weight loss
- Vital for building lean muscle
It has been said that you cannot overdose on omega-3 oils – the more the better. However, it would be better to consult with the physician or pharmacist for recommendations on amounts. So whether you enjoy fish or not, taking Omega-3 supplements may provide your body with a dramatically needed resource that it is lacking. Weigh the benefits versus the idea and you may find that the idea is far more attractive than you initially suspected.